John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

We should have a debate on the health issue. I agree with many of the sentiments expressed by Senators. Senator Harris spoke about subsidiarity and said no large organisation should do the work of a small one. Like him, I was an admirer of Deputy Harney before she was appointed Minister for Health and Children. I remember the day she was appointed and thought it was a good one for the country. However, she has been an unmitigated disaster in her role. She was responsible for the establishment of the HSE, a large body set up to do the work of a number of smaller bodies. This defies the notion of subsidiarity. It is claimed the Minister is taking on the public sector unions within the HSE. She created the HSE.